Automobile speed-regulator.



A. B. GRIEP. AUTOMOBILE SPEED REGULATOR. rrmouxon rum JUNE 21. 1910.

Patented Jan. 10,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor Witnesses zap,

Attorneys A. B. GRIEP. AUTOMOBILE SPEED REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1910.

981,080, Patented Jan. 10,1911.

2 8HEETSSHEET 2.

Witnesses Inventor by l I r I Attorneys PATENT OFFICE.

' ANTHONY B. GRIEP, OF AURQRA, MISSOURI.

AUTOMOBILE SPEED-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Application filed June 27, 1910. Serial No. 569,100.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY B. GRIEP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Lawrence and State of Missouri, have invented 'a new and useful Automobile Speed-Regulator, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide, in a simple, merchantable and inexpensive form, a device which may be interposed into the flexible shaft which connects the speed indicator of a self-propelled vehicle with the wheel thereof, whereby the speed of the vehicle may be regulated by the same means whereby the speed indicator is actuated.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism, adapted to be operated by the traction wheel of a self-propelled vehicle, to control, automatically, the

' speed of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide, in a self-propelled vehicle, a governor mechanism adapted to control the supply pipe of the motor, and the sparking in the internal combustion engine whereby the vehicle is driven. 7

Another object of the inventionis to provide governor mechanism for a self-propelled vehicle which may be employed either upon a vehicle which is driven by an internal combustion engine, or upon a vehicle which is electrically driven. 7

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the drawings, and claimed, it being understood that,, within the scope of what is claimed, divers changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 shows the invention in side elevation, arts being broken away, Fig. 2 is a side e evation, upon-an enlarged scale; and Fig. 3 is a section upon the line AB of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, a portion of the frame of a self-propelled vehicle is shown, and denoted by the "numeral 1, the numeral 2 de-- noting the dash-board, or other like. up standing element, the numeral 3 denoting one of the wheels of the vehicle, and the numeral 4 denoting the axle of the vehicle.

In carrying out the invention, a support is provided, thissupport being of any desired form, and positioned in any desired manner upon the vehicle, the location of the support upon the vehicle frame being directed by the construction of the particular vehicle upon which the same is to be employed. In the present instance, the support is shown in the form of a frame 5', supported upon the vehicle frame 1. In the upper end 6 of the frame 5, a collar 7 is mounted for rotation, diverging arms 8 being pivoted at one end to the collar 7, and at the other ends provided with balls 9. Links 10 pivotally unite the intermediate portion of the arms 8 with a tubular member 11, adapted to slide longitudinally in a cross brace 12 uniting opposite portions of the frame 5. The construction above pointed out embodies the principle of the well known fly ball governor. A shaft 14 is extended through the tubular member 11, for rotation therein, the shaft 14 being extended through the collar 7 and secured thereto, so that the collar 7 and the shaft 14 may ro- -tate together. The shaft 14 at one end, protrudes beyond the collar 7, and is connected with a flexible shaft 15, the free end of which is operatively connected with a speed indicator 15 of any common or approved yp The opposite end of the shaft 14 is connected with a flexible shaft 17 this flexible shaft- 17 being connected by means of intermeshing pinions 18, with a pinion 20 se-- .cured to the wheel 3 of the vehicle, the intermeshing pinions 18 being mounted for rotation in a suitable bearing 19 mounted upon the axle 4. Adjacent its lower end, the tubull'ar member 11 is provided with a head 22. This head 22 is grooved for rotation in an arm 23, the construction being such that,

although the head 22 is free to rotate in the arm 23, the arm 23.will be slid to and 'fro with themember 11, as the same is actuated by the fly ball governor mechanism. The I free end of this arm 23 is mounted for slidingmovement in aslotted guide 24, one end of which is secured to the cross bar 12. One end of a connecting rod 25 is loosely mounted in the arm 23, the other end of the connecting rodbeing pivotally united with an extension 26, connected with the turning plug 27 of the valve 28 of the gasolene supply pipe. This gasolene supply pipe 29 forms a connection between the tank an the internalcombustion engine whereby the vehicle is propelled, the construction above referred to being a matter of common knowledge, and unworthy of further illustration or description. At this point it will be stated that when the flexible shaft 15, 17, is rotated by the wheel 3 of the vehicle, the speed of the vehicle will be indicated upon the member 16. As the speed of the vehicle increases, the fly ball governor mechanism.

will lift the tubular member 11, the member 11 carrying with it the arm 23, and the arm 23 through the instrumentality of the connecting rod 25, operating the valve 28 in the supply pipe 29, and thus controlling automatically thesp'eed of the vehicle. It is to be noted that the tubular member 11 is provided with a collar 38, held in place by means of a set screw 39. This collar is adapted to.

porting plate 31 may be provided with bind-1 ing posts-36 or the like, adaptedto receive the terminals 37 of an electric conductor. ()ne arm 35 of the bent lever or pivot-ally mounted member may be held in contact with both of the binding postsby means of a retractile spring 34,. one end of which is secured to the portion 35 of the lever, the other end of the spring being secured to the supporting plate 31. A

It will be seen that when the speed of the vehicle has been increased to a sufiicient -degree, the head 22 will engage the end otthe arm 32 of the bent lever, tilting the arm 35 of the lever out of engagement with the binding posts 36. Thus, the circuit through the conductor 37 will be broken. 1 This 'arrangement may be employed in a variety of ways. For instance, if it is desired, it may be employed upon a vehicle which is propelled by an internal combustion engine, the

sparking being thus regulated. If desired,

a tubular member slidable and rotatable on the frame by the governor mechanism and located upon the shaftg 'a collar adjustably held upon the tubular member and positioned to engage the frame LO limit the sliding movement of the tubular member as the speed of rotation thereof is decreased; an arm outstanding substantially at right angles to the tubular member, the tubular member being rotatable in the arm and the arm being held to the tubular member for sliding movement therewith; a guide secured to the frame substantially parallel to the shaft and adapted to receive the arm for sliding movement; a connecting element loosely engaged with the arm and adapted for connection with a fuel supply valve; a

member pivotally mounted upon the frame;

resilient means for tilting the pivotally mounted member'to dispose the same in thepath of sliding movement of the tubular member; and spaced elements adapted to receive electric conductors, the movable.memher being normall held by the resilient means in contact with both of said elements to complete the circuit through the conductors. In testimony that \I claim the foregoing ANTHONY B. GRIEP.

Witnesses:

- T. W. KEL'roN,

C. O.'PLANK. 

